Count depth running back DeeJay Dallas among those who believe in the Vikings’ QB1.
The newcomer in Minnesota chatted with the media following last weekend’s game. He got asked about Kyler Murray, someone he worked alongside down in Arizona. Check out some of what Dallas had to say: “The big plays are going to come, and I just feel like we’re getting rolling now, so grab the popcorn.”
DeeJay Dallas, Kyler Murray, & The Vikings’ QB1 Job
Not too long after offering the popcorn advice, Dallas pointed to a specific game: the Cardinals versus the Jets in the 2024 season.
Based on the stats, Mr. Murray had an impressive day at the office. The former Cardinal completed 22/24 of his passes, meaning that 91.7% of his throws ended up being completed. Better yet, there were 266 yards alongside a touchdown pass. As a runner, Murray picked up 21 yards and 2 touchdowns.
DeeJay Dallas was active in that game, carrying the ball a trio of times for 10 yards. Apparently, Dallas was impressed by the quarterback’s effort, seeing it as evidence of what Murray can accomplish in the NFL.
At 5-0, Minnesota is creating plenty of optimism about what can be accomplished in 2026. Seeing the Vikings reach their potential, though, will probably be at least partially contingent on Kyler Murray going from below average to dangerous.
The veteran’s stats aren’t particularly flattering. Murray’s 68.3% completion percentage is very healthy but his 662 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions are modest. So is his 84.7 passer rating. Minnesota needs more.
The good news is that Murray looked much better in Week 5 than he did early on. Part of the problem was missed time in Week 1 and Week 2 due to that concussion, but Murray played bad football in those eleven snaps versus the Packers in Week 1 (most notably, that ill-fated interception that involved launching the pigskin into the heavens).
Upon returning in Week 3, Murray left quite a bit to be desired. He then began to find some rhythm toward the end of the Week 4 Miami game before then having a solid effort in the Week 5 Saints game.
A particularly encouraging detail from that New Orleans game was that Murray was active as a runner. He earned 51 yards on the ground, looking elusive and decisive along the way. Likewise, he found a way to buy time in the pocket, moving away from pass rushers who were left grabbing air rather than a quarterback’s jersey. He did all this while avoiding hits, showing poise and wisdom by getting out of bounds and sliding.
During the summer months, head coach Kevin O’Connell shifted the way he was discussing the Vikings’ QB1 assignment. The hope going into the 2025 season was to get a game manager who could be a good point guard. Going into the current season meant rallying around somebody who could himself be a playmaker instead of only being a distributor.
Kyler Murray, 29, still has much to prove. He’ll look to do so in Week 7 versus the Colts. DeeJay Dallas is a believer and thinks that Minnesota’s fans should get the kernels popping to enjoy the ride.